Graduate Studies

Join us at Acadia University to pursue a graduate degree in an environment built on research, community, and close cooperation between faculty and students.

As a small university, we can provide you with an experience that you won't find in a large research university. The small size of our programs means you'll form real bonds with your professors and your fellow students. Your thesis supervisors will be accessible and responsive to your needs.

We encourage our graduate students to explore research, field work, and opportunities in our community. Our local area is steeped in history, rich with different ecosystems, and home to growing agtech, beverage, tourism and culture, and healthcare sectors. There are powerful research connections that can be made with any of our 18 program options.

Our Programs

We offer 18 graduate programs from all four faculties. Select your program to learn about areas of study, program format, admissions information, and more. Or, explore our full list of programs.  

Aerial View of Acadia

Our Campus

The 250-acre Acadia campus is located in beautiful Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Our campus offers breathtaking views and cozy study environments in spaces like the iconic K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens.

Your classes are a 5-minute walk from any student residence on campus and within a kilometre of most housing in the town. Students with families will find both the elementary school and a daycare option within a block of campus, and future students will benefit from a campus-based child care centre slated for construction.

Full-time students receive a free pass to the Acadia Athletics Complex, and the campus connects with the Harvest Moon Trail and Wolfville's Main Street bike lanes.

The Town

Located just an hour from Halifax and Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Wolfville is the kind of college town you've always imagined. Streets are lined with bistros, coffee shops, lively pubs, and quirky boutiques. Wolfville is nestled in the heart of Nova Scotia’s award-winning wine region, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is only 10 minutes away.

The town is framed by the rolling hills of the Annapolis Valley and the waters of the Minas Basin, home to the highest tides in the world. It's an excellent choice for students who enjoy outdoor recreation and a friendly, small town way of life.

Getting a Coffee Downtown
Port Pub in Port Williams

Housing

Off-campus

Most students live within a brief walk from campus, and there are several towns a short drive away. Rental prices in Wolfville and surrounding areas remain lower than in many major cities. Please visit our Off-Campus Housing page for resources for finding an apartment, expectations for living in the area, and your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Our Graduate Studies team has also compiled a list of off-campus options (PDF) that may be appropriate to meet your needs.

Residence Life

Unlike many larger research universities, all of our residences are located on-campus, and campus is part of downtown Wolfville. You'll be steps away from your classes and close to everyday necessities like grocery stores and banks.

Residence Life has reserved rooms in Roy Jodrey Hall, Crowell Tower, and Whitman House (female-only residence) for those wanting to build a small community among fellow Master's students. Family housing is unfortunately not available.

Room selection normally occurs in May for students starting their programs in July and September, and October for those starting in January.

Please visit Residence Life for residence and meal plan options.

My time at Acadia University’s MA Political Science program was intellectually enriching and personally transformative. The supportive faculty, rigorous coursework, and vibrant academic community deepened my passion for political inquiry and strengthened my research skills. Inspired by this experience, I intend to pursue a PhD in Political Science or a related field, with the goal of becoming a professor and contributing to the discipline through teaching and scholarship.

Emmanuel Amardey
MA Political Science Graduate

My experience in the Computer Science master’s program at Acadia was incredibly rewarding. I had the chance to work on several meaningful research projects, publish a couple of papers, and grow both personally and professionally. I’m now working as a Research Assistant at Acadia, collaborating with a startup called MotionBed to help launch their app to the App Store.

Ahmad Chowdhury

Over the course of my program, I completed projects for my sponsor company including ground penetrating radar surveying, creation of a mobile application, and measuring methane emissions at landfills. I took courses in Environmental Impact Assessments, and Energy Resources that will serve me well going forward. Following my graduation, I am continuing on full-time for my sponsor company, Mirror Nova Scotia, in the role of Operations Technology Analyst.

Eric DuPlessis

Throughout my time in the Masters of Applied Kinesiology program here at Acadia I was afforded many opportunities that I may not have had elsewhere through internships both with the university and outside. These have allowed me to develop my skills and feel confidant stepping into a larger role within strength and conditioning elsewhere.

Luke McMillan BKin, CSEP-CEP, CSCS (He/Him)
Masters of Applied Kinesiology Acadia University

My time in the chemistry Master's program at Acadia University was both inspiring and foundational. The supportive faculty and hands-on research opportunities prepared me exceptionally well for my current PhD. studies in inorganic chemistry at the University of Victoria.

Thanks so much again for the support during my time at Acadia :)

Joe Nazak

My time at Acadia has encompassed some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Throughout my graduate program, I was given the independence to lead my own project and the support to grow as both a researcher and science communicator — ultimately inspiring me to pursue a PhD. I’m incredibly grateful to have completed my master’s degree at Acadia, there truly is no place quite like it.

Hunter Hogan, MSc Biology

While completing my Master’s degree, I had the privilege of working with the Native Council of Nova Scotia as an APTEC Case Manager and SARSET Facilitator, supporting Indigenous clients in achieving their employment and training goals. In January, I accepted a position with the Department of Opportunities and Social Development as a Local Area Coordinator in the Disability Support Program, continuing my commitment to inclusive, community-based service.

Naomi MacDonald, MA Sociology

Pursuing an MSc in Biology at Acadia allowed me to take ownership in my research, and to build my leadership and communication skills. I gained a deeply renewed sense of love for research, and was surrounded by a positive community of graduate students and faculty alike.

For my next steps and career path, I have been accepted to medical school at Dalhousie University and will begin pursuing my MD degree in August.

Courtney Strugnell

Ruby Schweighardt - Thesis Defence

Investigating the influence of colony dynamics and diet change on recovery of the endangered roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) on Country Island, Nova Scotia

Read more …

Contact Us

The Graduate Studies Office can be reached Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. AST.

Please send admission inquiries to:

Connect with your Department/School advisor:
Graduate Advisors

Campus Map

Mailing Address
Acadia University
Graduate Studies
Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6
Canada

Courier Address
15 University Avenue
Acadia University
Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6
Canada

Ph. 902.585.2201
Staff

Dr. Kate Ashley
Vice-Provost Academic Policy & Graduate Studies

Theresa Starratt
Graduate Studies Officer
Horton Hall, Room 214

Students

Acadia Graduate Student Alliance (AGSA) represents current Graduate Students